"You're going to tell me the truth, (Name)." Sasuke spoke as he sensed you were awake. You sat up and sighed, you did owe Sasuke the truth.

"Okay, Sasuke. I'll tell you everything you want to know. Ask away."

"You had no choice either way. What was your relationship with him? How the hell do you know about Itachi's circumstances?" Sasuke spoke with anger in his voice. He refuses to believe that you were supporting Itachi. Depending on what you say, he was going to decide whether or not he should kill you.

"I've known Itachi since he was in the anbu back at the village. He was in Kakashi's squad around then, so I would hang out with them whenever they came back from missions. But then he disappeared, and I haven't heard from him since... I didn't see him again until I joined the Akatsuki."

~ Flashback ~

As everyone in the Akatsuki finished voting to let you join, you felt relieved that Itachi didn't sell you out. But the real question was why didn't he?

'Tobi' showed you to your new room and provided you with the Akatsuki attire.

"I have to step out and attend to some matters, for now just relax. I'll be back later to resume your training." Madara spoke as he caressed your cheek. You smiled and nodded before Madara moved his mask slightly to kiss your cheek. At times he could be a real romantic, when he isn't angry or controlling.

As soon as Madara left, you closed the door and jumped on the bed. You were so exhausted under all that pressure that you just wanted to sleep. But you started to feel like someone else's presence was in the room and sat up quickly to find Itachi standing in front of you.

"I-Itachi..."

"(Name). Tell me why you're really here, I doubt someone like yourself is actually here to take revenge on the Leaf." Itachi said as he was looking down at you. You were gonna say something until you found yourself tied against something in a different setting.

'Dammit... he caught me in his genjutsu..' you thought as you struggled to move your body. Itachi was standing in front of you while holding a sword.

"Speak now. Depending on your answer, I will decide whether or not to kill you quickly." Itachi spoke as he pointed the sword inches away from your body. You gulped as you feared Itachi really wasn't the sweet boy you used to know. But, you only had one hope.

"You know that we have training later? Right, Itachi?" You winked then flashed a smile at him, hoping he still remembers the excuse you used to use on his father to take him out of his home to hang out with you and Kakashi. Itachi did not react, which worried you.

Suddenly, the scenery of the genjutsu changed into something a bit more pleasant. You found yourself free to move around.

"(Name)-san... I'm not going to harm you because of the respect that I still have for you, but in exchange be honest with me and tell me why you're endangering yourself by associating with Madara." Itachi sighed as he waited for you to speak. You breathed a little easier as you felt you could trust Itachi.

"He personally confronted me. I wanted answers about my parents and my past that much is true, but Lord Third thought this was a perfect opportunity to investigate him and this organization he was forming." You didn't know how Itachi would react but you still felt comfortable enough to share this information with him. Itachi just remained silent until he opened his eyes and looked down to you.

"You're a part of the anbu now? And they just rashly sent you on a solo mission to infiltrate an unknown, dangerous organization without the proper training to do so?" Itachi spoke as he frowned at you. You laughed nervously as you nodded your head in response. Itachi sighed in annoyance.

"Out of all the decisions Lord Third and those Elders made, this is by far the most reckless. You lack every single possible skill necessary to even perform a successful infiltration. I'm honestly surprised you even made it this far."

"Yeah yeah, I get Itachi. I'm not skilled enough, you happy I admitted?" You said with bitterness in your tone. You already knew that it was extremely risky to take on this mission, but having Itachi state the obvious only lowered your moral.

"Anyways, I don't even know why I'm telling you all this. You're the enemy, aren't you? You gonna expose me now to earn Pain's praise?"

"There is no point in doing that. It only lowers my credibility here, not to mention that I will definitely be on Madara's bad side since he's taken a liking to you. But you may be useful to me, (Name)." Itachi said earning a curious look from you.

"You're sending reports to Lord Third, correct? I haven't been able to send him any updates since I'm being watched, I will need you to send updates to him on my behalf as well."

"Eh? Wait, Itachi you're undercover too?!" You were surprised since you just assumed he was a rogue ninja, but he was another dirty secret of the Leaf Village.

"Yes, for reasons I do not wish to elaborate on. Lord Third must've thought you would run into me. So in return for helping me, I will train you to the best of my ability on the basic skills you need as a member of the anbu black ops. I will also support you the best way I can in your mission. Do we have a deal?" Itachi spoke as he extended his hand out to you. You smiled as you felt better about the mission now that Itachi was on your side. You grabbed his hand and grinned.

"Deal!"

~ Present ~

"I spent months training with Madara, but secretly trained with Itachi as well. It took a while for Itachi to open up to me about his feelings but I respected him for it. Going through so much and having to hide those emotions too? It must've have been hard for him to tell me everything. Yet, that only encourages me to keep my promise to him." You smiled as you remembered Itachi's smile. Sasuke was quiet, showing no reaction to your words.

"What promise." There was a long silence before you mustered up the courage to actually speak.

"I promised Itachi... that I would protect you, as if you were my own younger brother. That no matter what, I would be there for you. To guide you and teach you. That's why I'm here, to give you the explanation you deserve. And... to save you." You spoke with a determined expression. Sasuke only chuckled manically before he punched the wall behind him.

"Don't give me that shit! Who said I needed to be saved?! You and Naruto are idiots for even thinking you could do anything for me. Why take me as your student knowing well you had such a secret that could've changed our lives... I could've still had my brother with me! Why did you hide it from me?!" Sasuke said as he grew angry. You sighed as he still didn't understand.

"I had to respect Itachi's wishes... he didn't want you to know because you would've done something reckless and put yourself in harms way. If anything were to ever happen to you, then everything Itachi had ever done would have been wasted. He only placed his trust in me to protect you because I understand how much you meant to him. Just like Naruto, I won't give up on you, Sasuke."

"That still doesn't justify everything we had to go through! Itachi suffered... I suffered! Why should everyone in that damn village get to be happy at the cost of my brother's... my clan's lives! I will avenge Itachi, I don't care if I die in the process as long as I kill every single one of those bastards-!" You slapped Sasuke across his face which caught him off guard. You had tears of anger fall down your face. You couldn't stand it anymore.

"I hate them for what they did as much as you! But what good will killing them bring, Sasuke?! The main culprit behind the massacre of your clan was Danzo and you already killed him! Do you think Itachi wanted you to be this way?! Full of hate and rage?! You need to stop and think about what Itachi really wanted for you and grow the fuck up...! Aren't you tired of shouldering all this pain and suffering by yourself...? Let us be there for you and ease your suffering, even if it's just a little bit..." you spoke softly as you grabbed Sasuke's shoulders, hoping you at least slapped some sense into him. Suddenly from the corner of your eye, you saw Sasuke's hand engulfed in Chidori come straight for you. With no time to dodge it, you braced yourself for impact but felt nothing. You looked up to see Madara grab onto you as Sasuke's hand passed right through you.

"I think that's enough talking for now. I can't have you go killing (Name) now, Sasuke. We need her in case we can't get our hands on the Kyuubi. Zetsu, please escort Sasuke back to his room so he can rest." Madara spoke as he pulled you away from Sasuke.

"Tch." Sasuke let out it annoyance as he stood up and a white Zetsu clone appeared from his body. Before Sasuke walked out, he turned around back into the room.

"My pain and suffering combined with those of my clan, my family, and my brother is what makes me strong. I wonder how you would feel if I killed Naruto, I wonder if you can 'grow up' if you went through our hell... or would you just end up becoming a hypocrite?" Sasuke said before he continued to walk away as Zetsu closed the door. You looked down to the ground, feeling as if nothing you said came close to reaching Sasuke's cold heart. Madara released your arm and chuckled as he faced you.

"Do you still believe you can keep your promise? That you can 'protect' Sasuke from his sealed fate?"

"I think it'll take more than just me lecturing him to make Sasuke come to his senses... but I won't be the one to beat the crap out him." You smiled as you remembered Naruto saying he would fight Sasuke. Madara only sighed as he hoped for a different reaction out of you.

"So you'll entrust the task to Naruto? Well it makes sense since you won't be able to leave this place." You grew confused and anxious from Madara's words. You then felt sharp pain coming from your stomach. You fell on your knees and grabbed your stomach as the pain became unbearable. Madara chuckled as another person came into the room. You looked up to see someone in a cloak with a white snake coming from the end of it. You recognized them as they got closer.

"You should really be careful about what you consume. Who knows what could be in your food." The man chuckled as he pushed his glasses up. Madara only watched you as you were close to passing out.

"K-Kabu..to.." you said before you fell unconscious. Kabuto smirked as he attempted to use his snake to grab you, but Madara stood in his way. He grabbed you and set you down on the bed.

"My, my. You seem rather protective of her. Why don't you let me keep an eye on her? I'll make sure she's safe until you need her." Kabuto said as he licked his lips. Madara looked back at Kabuto and flashed his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"(Name) stays here until the war starts. Your job is to make sure you can control her."

Kabuto only chuckled as he exited the room. Madara returned his attention back to you as he watched you. He sighed as he performed a jutsu on you. Markings appeared on your body but then disappeared.

"Maybe things will be different between us in the next world, (Name)."

A/N: HEY THERE! Sorry about the wait, I've been working nonstop and lost myself in the process. But I will keep trying to bring more chapters! So until then Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!! May 2020 be a great year for us all!